New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-22
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CANADIAN MOB-LA ".


Canadian extremists have contrlved to Just-
fy Mr. O'Brien's mission. When he lett Ire
land TO conduct campaign against the Gov
ernor- eneral, many Of the sincerest friends oil
Homo Rule regretted his course. Lord Lans-
downe is undoubtedly an oppressive landlord :
tho compromise which he refused to sanction
was based upon agrarian conditions and eco
pomc causes authoritatively defined by the
Cowper Commission: the evictions on his es'
tatns were cruel and unnecessary, and Mr.
O'Brien has been pleading a righteous cause
There WERE however, serious objections to the
arraignmcnt Of the Viceroy in Canada as
tyranncal landlord. Mr.. Parnell. ii has been
currently reported, had not favored the enter
prise since in his Judgment it tended to en-
barrass his Liberal allies who in circumstances
Of exceptional difficulty were generously and
effectively supporting him. 1t was, moreover,
deliberate attempt to impair the reputation
and authority Of the Queens personal repre-
sentative in the Dominion. Moderate Home
Rulers considered this grave error in policy.
Let the battle for Irish liberty, they said, be
fought at home and not in the colonies. In
international campaigning OF this SORT
in their Judgment, would not be OF any
direct benefit to the Home Rule cause, but
would tend to eXasperate loyalists in canada
and to harass the Gladstonians. These and
MANY other considerations have lmpelled
Americans to look with dsfavor upon MIR.
OBnen's present excursion, although they
have had no apologies to offer for Lord Lans-
downos heartlcss and ill-advised conduct as
landlord The displays OF lawlcssness IN
Toronto and Kingston, however, have caused
great revulsion Of public feeling. In Gan
ada as well as in the United States the vic
| tins of murderous intolerance and mob-law
command popular sympathy and respect.
The Dominion and municipal authorities
ought to have pursued one of two courses
| They should either have prohibited Mr.
| O'Brien's meetings altogether or they should
have provided him with adequate protection
both in Toronto and Kingston. II ii were
seditious for any one to discuss the Viceroy's
relations to his tenants, the meetings should
have been pronounced Illegal at the Outset
and the halls closed against the Irish aglta
| tor If free speech were allowed, the prvi
| lcge should have been defended with all tn'
energies Of municipal and Imperial authority
Protection, moreover, should have been al
forded before the Infatuated mobs had com
| mitted their outrages. Mr.. " DIieh may ~
pardoned for resenting with righteous mdig
nation Mayor Carson's belated offer TO cal
out the artillery after he had narrowly escape
being murdered in the streets. The lrisl
residents Of Toronto and Kingston should hav
been protected when their right to hold
peaceable meeting and to discuss questions
the day was imperilled by threats OF lawless
ness and outrage. They were exposed to tn
insults and violence Of fIenzied mob.
In 1871 the Irish Protestant societies
this city made arrangements for making thei
annual parade on the 18th of July. Threat
of violence and street attacks were at ono
bruted and very strong pressure was orougn
to bear upon the municipal authorities D
prohibit the procession. The policy adopte
on that occasion was the only one that Shout
ever be tolerated in a free country. In
right of the Irish Protcstants to have their ar
, nual parade was recognized by the Governor
every regiment in the town was called out
defend their liberties, and mob-violence al
! not prevail. This firm policy ought to hay
a been followed in Toronto and Kingston AL
O'Brien and his Irish sympathizers were eI
{ titled to adequate protection from the orane
mobs. This they did not receive.